list_unchop: Combine a list of vectors

In vctrs: Vector Helpers

Combine a list of vectors

Description

While list_unchop() is not deprecated, we now recommend that you use either:

• list_combine(x, indices = indices, size = size) over list_unchop(x, indices = indices)

• vec_c(!!!x) over list_unchop(x)

list_unchop() combines a list of vectors into a single vector, placing elements in the output according to the locations specified by indices. It is similar to vec_c(), but gives greater control over how the elements are combined.

Usage

list_unchop(
  x,
  ...,
  indices = NULL,
  ptype = NULL,
  name_spec = NULL,
  name_repair = c("minimal", "unique", "check_unique", "universal", "unique_quiet",
    "universal_quiet"),
  error_arg = "x",
  error_call = current_env()
)

Arguments

x	A list
...	These dots are for future extensions and must be empty.
indices	A list of positive integer vectors specifying the locations to place elements of x in. Each element of x is recycled to the size of the corresponding index vector. The size of indices must match the size of x. If NULL, x is combined in the order it is provided in, which is equivalent to using vec_c().
ptype	If NULL, the default, the output type is determined by computing the common type across all elements of x. Alternatively, you can supply ptype to give the output a known type.
name_spec	A name specification for combining inner and outer names. This is relevant for inputs passed with a name, when these inputs are themselves named, like outer = c(inner = 1), or when they have length greater than 1: outer = 1:2. By default, these cases trigger an error. You can resolve the error by providing a specification that describes how to combine the names or the indices of the inner vector with the name of the input. This specification can be: A function of two arguments. The outer name is passed as a string to the first argument, and the inner names or positions are passed as second argument. An anonymous function as a purrr-style formula. A glue specification of the form "{outer}_{inner}". "inner", in which case outer names are ignored, and inner names are used if they exist. Note that outer names may still be used to provide informative error messages. An rlang::zap() object, in which case both outer and inner names are ignored and the result is unnamed. See the name specification topic.
name_repair	How to repair names, see repair options in vec_as_names().
error_arg	An argument name as a string. This argument will be mentioned in error messages as the input that is at the origin of a problem.
error_call	The execution environment of a currently running function, e.g. caller_env(). The function will be mentioned in error messages as the source of the error. See the call argument of abort() for more information.

Value

A vector of type vec_ptype_common(!!!x), or ptype, if specified. The size is computed as vec_size_common(!!!indices) unless the indices are NULL, in which case the size is vec_size_common(!!!x).

Dependencies

• vec_c()

Examples

# If `indices` selects every value in `x` exactly once,
# in any order, then `list_unchop()` inverts `vec_chop()`
x <- c("a", "b", "c", "d")
indices <- list(2, c(3, 1), 4)
vec_chop(x, indices = indices)
list_unchop(vec_chop(x, indices = indices), indices = indices)

# When unchopping, size 1 elements of `x` are recycled
# to the size of the corresponding index
list_unchop(list(1, 2:3), indices = list(c(1, 3, 5), c(2, 4)))

# Names are retained, and outer names can be combined with inner
# names through the use of a `name_spec`
lst <- list(x = c(a = 1, b = 2), y = 1)
list_unchop(lst, indices = list(c(3, 2), c(1, 4)), name_spec = "{outer}_{inner}")

# If you have a list of homogeneous vectors, sometimes it can be useful to
# unchop, apply a function to the flattened vector, and then rechop according
# to the original indices. This can be done efficiently with `list_sizes()`.
x <- list(c(1, 2, 1), c(3, 1), 5, double())
x_flat <- list_unchop(x)
x_flat <- x_flat + max(x_flat)
vec_chop(x_flat, sizes = list_sizes(x))

vctrs documentation built on Jan. 16, 2026, 5:16 p.m.